Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Observation of light-induced coherence loss in a caesium atomic fountain

P. D. Featonby, C. L. Webb, G. S. Summy, Christopher J. Foot, Keith R. Burnett

Published Feb 14, 1998• 6 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report on an experimental measurement of the phase shifts associated with the AC Stark effect. The optically induced light shift was measured using a Ramsey fringe technique and we have made detailed studies of the potential sources of coherence loss that can occur for an atomic sample manipulated by light. We investigated the loss of coherence due to the light shifts induced by using a non-uniform laser beam and the effects of scattered light. These measurements have implications for experiments which use optical techniques for manipulating atomic wavepackets in atom optics and atom interferometry.

DOI
10.1088/0953-4075/31/3/007

Related papers

Inhomogeneous light shift effects on atomic quantum state evolution in non-destructive measurements

Patrick J Windpassinger, Daniel Oblak, Ulrich B. Hoff +3 more

Various parameters of a trapped collection of cold and ultracold atoms can be determined non-destructively by measuring the phase shift of an off-resonant probe beam, caused by the state-dependent index of refraction of the atoms. The dispersive light–atom interaction, however, gives rise to a differential light shift (ac Stark shift) between the atomic states which, for a non-uniform probe intensity distribution, causes an inhomogeneous dephasing between the atoms. In this paper, we investigate the effects of this inhomogeneous light shift in non-destructive measurement schemes in cold caesium. We interpret our experimental data on dispersively probed Rabi oscillations and Ramsey fringes in terms of a simple light shift model which is shown to describe the observed behavior well. Furthermore, we show that by using spin echo techniques, the inhomogeneous phase shift distribution between the two clock levels can be reversed.

arXiv:0801.3242•New Journal of Physics•May 28, 2008•23 citations

Influence of external potentials on optical Ramsey fringes in atomic interferometry

Jürgen Audretsch, Karl-Peter Marzlin

The interaction of an atomic beam with four traveling-wave laser beams leads to optically induced Ramsey fringes in the atomic beam. This experimental setup has been used as an optical frequency standard as well as a matter-wave interferometer. We calculate for two-level atoms the shift of the fringes due to the influence of fairly general external forces in lowest order of a perturbation approach. A comparison with the phase shift found in a corresponding WKB treatment of the interaction geometry is made. The consequences of beam reversal and cooling of the atomic beam are studied. As an application, we treat the linear acceleration and rotation of the interferometer and discuss the influence of space-time curvature.

Physical Review A•May 1, 1993•10 citations

Sensitive measurement of phase shifts due to the ac Stark effect in a Ca optical Ramsey interferometer

Atsuo Morinaga, Toshiharu Tako, Nobuhiko Ito

We constructed an optical Ramsey atomic interferometer, which has a resolution of 8 fm for the difference between arms of the interferometer, and used it to examine the phase shift due to the ac Stark effect of the excited state of the intercombination line ${(}^{1}$${\mathit{S}}_{0}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}^{3}$${\mathit{P}}_{1}$) of Ca. It was clearly observed that the phase shift is in proportion to the field power and in inverse proportion to the detuning frequency of the laser. The proportionality coefficient obtained was in good agreement with the theoretical one.

Physical Review A•Aug 1, 1993•31 citations

Precision Measurement and Compensation of Optical Stark Shifts for an Ion-Trap Quantum Processor

Hartmut Häffner, S. Gulde, Mark Riebe +5 more

Using optical Ramsey interferometry, we precisely measure the laser-induced ac-Stark shift on the S(1/2)-D(5/2) "quantum bit" transition near 729 nm in a single trapped 40Ca+ ion. We cancel this shift using an additional laser field. This technique is of particular importance for the implementation of quantum information processing with cold trapped ions. As a simple application we measure the atomic phase evolution during a n x 2 pi rotation of the quantum bit.

arXiv:physics/0212040•Physical Review Letters•Apr 9, 2003•146 citations

AC stark interference effect in optical Ramsey atomic interferometer

Jingbiao Chen

In an optical Ramsey atomic interferometer using Ramsey separated oscillating fields method, AC Stark effect shows that an interference feature is superimposed on the AC Stark level shift dispersion line-shape. This phenomenon has never been observed before. In this report, an analytic expression of the AC Stark shift in optical Ramsey atomic interferometer has been derived, and the numerical result of this interesting feature has been analyzed. Finally, the condition to measure the Interference of AC Stark Effect has been discussed.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Oct 9, 2000•4 citations

Measurement of the ac Stark shift with a guided matter-wave interferometer

Benjamin Deissler, K. J. Hughes, John H. Burke +1 more

The dynamic polarizability of $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms was measured using a guided-wave Bose-Einstein condensate interferometer. Taking advantage of the large arm separations obtainable in our device, a well-calibrated laser beam is applied to one atomic packet and not the other, inducing a differential phase shift. The technique requires relatively low laser intensity and works for arbitrary optical frequencies. For off-resonant light, the ac polarizability is obtained with a statistical accuracy of 3% and a calibration uncertainty of 6%. On resonance, the dispersion-shaped behavior of the Stark shift is observed, but with a broadened linewidth that is attributed to collective light scattering effects. The resulting nonlinearity may prove useful for the production and control of squeezed quantum states.

arXiv:0709.4675•Physical Review A•Mar 14, 2008•40 citations
We report on an experimental measurement of the phase shifts associated with the AC Stark effect. The optically induced light shift was measured using a Ramsey fringe technique and we have made detailed studies of the potential sources of coherence loss that can occur for an atomic sample manipulated by light. We investigated the loss of coherence due to the light shifts induced by using a non-uniform laser beam and the effects of scattered light. These measurements have implications for experiments which use optical techniques for manipulating atomic wavepackets in atom optics and atom interferometry.
Various parameters of a trapped collection of cold and ultracold atoms can be determined non-destructively by measuring the phase shift of an off-resonant probe beam, caused by the state-dependent index of refraction of the atoms. The dispersive light–atom interaction, however, gives rise to a differential light shift (ac Stark shift) between the atomic states which, for a non-uniform probe intensity distribution, causes an inhomogeneous dephasing between the atoms. In this paper, we investigate the effects of this inhomogeneous light shift in non-destructive measurement schemes in cold caesium. We interpret our experimental data on dispersively probed Rabi oscillations and Ramsey fringes in terms of a simple light shift model which is shown to describe the observed behavior well. Furthermore, we show that by using spin echo techniques, the inhomogeneous phase shift distribution between the two clock levels can be reversed.
The interaction of an atomic beam with four traveling-wave laser beams leads to optically induced Ramsey fringes in the atomic beam. This experimental setup has been used as an optical frequency standard as well as a matter-wave interferometer. We calculate for two-level atoms the shift of the fringes due to the influence of fairly general external forces in lowest order of a perturbation approach. A comparison with the phase shift found in a corresponding WKB treatment of the interaction geometry is made. The consequences of beam reversal and cooling of the atomic beam are studied. As an application, we treat the linear acceleration and rotation of the interferometer and discuss the influence of space-time curvature.
We constructed an optical Ramsey atomic interferometer, which has a resolution of 8 fm for the difference between arms of the interferometer, and used it to examine the phase shift due to the ac Stark effect of the excited state of the intercombination line (1{(}^{1}(1S0{\mathit{S}}_{0}S0​${\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}^{3}$P1{\mathit{P}}_{1}P1​) of Ca. It was clearly observed that the phase shift is in proportion to the field power and in inverse proportion to the detuning frequency of the laser. The proportionality coefficient obtained was in good agreement with the theoretical one.
In an optical Ramsey atomic interferometer using Ramsey separated oscillating fields method, AC Stark effect shows that an interference feature is superimposed on the AC Stark level shift dispersion line-shape. This phenomenon has never been observed before. In this report, an analytic expression of the AC Stark shift in optical Ramsey atomic interferometer has been derived, and the numerical result of this interesting feature has been analyzed. Finally, the condition to measure the Interference of AC Stark Effect has been discussed.
The dynamic polarizability of 87Rb^{87}\mathrm{Rb}87Rb atoms was measured using a guided-wave Bose-Einstein condensate interferometer. Taking advantage of the large arm separations obtainable in our device, a well-calibrated laser beam is applied to one atomic packet and not the other, inducing a differential phase shift. The technique requires relatively low laser intensity and works for arbitrary optical frequencies. For off-resonant light, the ac polarizability is obtained with a statistical accuracy of 3% and a calibration uncertainty of 6%. On resonance, the dispersion-shaped behavior of the Stark shift is observed, but with a broadened linewidth that is attributed to collective light scattering effects. The resulting nonlinearity may prove useful for the production and control of squeezed quantum states.